kittyboots's Profile

We had a wonderful wedding lunch at Paola's up in Carnegie Hill. The food and service were fabulous and Paola was a doll to deal with. Price was beyond reasonable. They have access to a private room in the Hotel Wales upstairs.

Looking for a casual but good spot for Chinese dinner on Xmas, late afternoon/early eve. What's open, what's good? We'll be up at NY Hospital all day, so anyplace on the east side from 72 St down to Chinatown is good. The menu should have some bland & not too authentic choices for older relatives who just can't go there. Ideas?

Thanks. Judging from these posts & in retrospect I was likely no place near Powell's for that meal. Memorable meal, forgetable location. We ended up at going for Chinese food instead at Powell Seafood & had the best clams in black bean sauce ever. I'll check out the recommendations down in this post on my next visit. Thanks all!

Who knows good Thai food in Portland? I'm here NYC, visiting family. I had some outstanding Thai last time I was here about 3 years ago but for the life of me, can't recall where. My brother would love to check it out but I can't think where it was. I may be off but I *think* it was walking distance from Powell's, and maybe Buffalo Exchange? I remember it being a sort of fun & funky area. Leads?

There's a little bakery/sandwich shop on 8th Ave right below 14th St. It's a tiny place, has amazing guava croissant, little cakes & things like that, good empanadas, decent sandwiches. It has a few tables & a very friendly cat. Does anyone know the place I'm talking about, and if you do, do you know the name??

I've never been a fan of Magnolia cupcakes. The icing tastes like gobs of pure butter with way too much sugar. Nothing artful about it. And the cake is dry & blah. I do like their banana pudding though. For a good cupcake try Crumbs on 8th Street.

I adore the Mud Truck, and mornings where I cross Astor Pl before they've arrived are always off on a sour note. Without the Mud Truck the only option at that hour is Starbucks & not only do I hate supporting the suburban corporate sprawling of NY, I honestly dislike their bitter coffee & their too sweet breakfast options & brittle bagels. But when I round that corner & see ORANGE I know I'll have my perfect cup of coffee (small Mud dark with steamed skim & half a sugar, please) and one of the best fresh bagels around. When I get there at 7:20 AM the bagels are still warm enough to melt the butter. Yum.

So I adore the Mud Truck. Plus, the guys are friendly, they always have some cool music playing, & they give treats to all the local dogs. What's not to like?

lovelove the Mud Truck. the Astor Pl crew rocks & they always remember my standard order. best way to start the day, NOT buy Charbucks, get a good cuppa cawfee (for something that comes in a cardboard cup, anyway) w steamed milk AND a good bagel.

There was a Barton's down the block from me where I grew up in Jackson Hgts ... it was on the corner of 37th Ave & 82nd St. I don't remember eating any of their candy, it was probably way more money than my allowance allowed, but I still remember the smell of that shop. I think I used to go in there just to sniff sometimes.

I'm going to a birthday dinner for a foodie friend tonight, was planning to stop by Stonehouse Oils to pick up some of their Persian Lime olive oil ... and just found out the shop is closed Tues & Wed. Ack! Where can I go get something interesting/cool/special/delicious worthy of gift giving in & around the East Village?

I've gotten take out there. It was a seitan dish, wasn't quite what I expected it to be but decent just the same. Not fabulous ... decent. Don't know if it's the same owners as the Slope Mekong; the man who owns this one used to own the Mekong on Prince St in Nolita ... I know because he recognized me from there ... very surprising because that was over 6 yrs ago.

I'm really excited to read this. I live around the corner. That stretch of Bleecker & Macdougal used to be coffee house heaven, but in recent years they've all gone downhill. I'm very cheered to read that this newbie on the block is reviving a fine old tradition. I'll have to check it this weekend.

I think it's inherent to our culture. Anyway, something packaged, like chocolate, with the kosher symbol, sounds wonderful. Same for kosher wine. And flowers sound lovely too. Whatever you get, it will show you care & are being a good guest. Go, have fun!

The places I noted in my first post all have packages to go. Two of them are butcher shops, and KTinNYC also noted the place on First Ave, except s/he spelled Kurowycky correctly ;) Don't know about Veselka, I've only gotten food there to eat in.

There's a couple of Polish butchers in the East Village that have them, one on 2nd Ave & St Mark's, one on First off of St Mark's (Kyrowicki's (sp?)). There's also a shop on First Ave & St Mark's that sells them. I'm sure other Chowhounds will be able to provide the exact name for you.